Reclaiming the Homework Narrative

Loading player...
Lauren Edmunds, who runs a school for children with learning delays, looks at how the way we moan or complain about schoolwork actually becomes the voice in our children's heads. She argues that if we treat homework as a chore or a waste of time, our kids will too, which eventually makes the work even harder for them.
This episode is about shifting that mindset by role-modelling effort and using language that connects practice to progress. Lauren shares practical ways to build "grit" and resilience, especially for students who find the work tough and don't always see immediate results. The goal isn't just to get through primary school, but to help children embrace challenges so they’re ready for the real world.
26 Jan English South Africa Education · Self-Improvement

Other recent episodes

Making Learning Easy

Learning is about more than taking in new information. Children need time to process what they’ve learnt and practise recalling it. In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores why children with learning difficulties may struggle to remember information and how screen time and distractions at home can affect their concentration. She…
20 Oct 12 min

Helping Children Manage Big Emotions

When a child loses control of their emotions, it’s easy to see it as bad behaviour. But as Lauren Edmunds explains, there’s a difference between a child acting out and a child who is simply overwhelmed. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) offers a useful way to understand emotional dysregulation and what…
12 Oct 14 min

Are We Accidentally Teaching Our Children They Can't?

We all want the best for our children, but what happens when our good intentions accidentally hold them back? In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores the concept of “learned helplessness” and how stepping in too quickly to fix a bed, tie a shoe, or finish a task can inadvertently send…
28 Sep 6 min

Rethinking Screen Time: Connection Over Addiction

When parents struggle to get their children off devices, the usual advice is to set strict screen-time limits or use rewards. But when screens become something a child earns, they can end up becoming even more important, with the device taking over a bigger part of their day. Screens are…
14 Sep 22 min

Rules vs. Growth

When a child repeatedly breaks a rule, it is easy to respond by tightening discipline and demanding compliance. But forcing children to fall in line rarely addresses the real issue. More often than not, it simply masks what is causing the behaviour in the first place. In this episode, Lauren…
31 Aug 6 min